Pedigree doesn't guarantee great songs, but listeners are in good hands with the Seattle supergroup The Tripwires, which features John Ramberg of The Minus 5 and Model Rockets, Jim Sangster of Young Fresh Fellows, Screaming Trees' Mark Pickerel and engineer/producer Johnny Sangster. The band's debut, Makes You Look Around, sounds less like a contemporary recording than an unearthed gem: Its classic power-pop would fit comfortably alongside vintage records by The Hollies and Big Star.
While it's hard to choose a standout, "Big Electric Light" sounds classic to its core: Guitars chime, harmonies shine, and the rhythm section lopes along in an ode to making dreams come true. The result sparkles with such innocence and optimism, it's hard to believe it wasn't written 40 years ago. Power-pop rarely grabs much of a commercial foothold, which only hammers home the notion that these seasoned musicians are making this charming, refreshing music for the sheer joy of it.
Listen to yesterday's 'Song of the Day.'
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